Exfoliating the face and the body is most likely the one step that gets cut out of your skin care routine when you run short of time, but we’re hoping to convince you otherwise.
Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells that sit on the surface of the skin. Healthy skin takes approximately 28 days to renew itself with the process taking a bit longer as we age. Although for the most part harmless, dead skin cells can make skin look dull and dry. Helping them shed may, however, prevent problems from developing in the future.
Whether you opt for mechanical exfoliation (sugar scrub, washcloth or dry brush) or go the chemical route (glycolic and other fruit acids), here are 5 reasons you should exfoliate regularly:
1. Get a better fake tan. As most self-tanners use a sugar that reacts with dead skin cells to achieve that golden color, exfoliating first will help you get a smooth and even finish. There’s nothing natural-looking about a blotchy tan!
2. Treatments penetrate better. When you spend hard-earned money on skin care treatments, you want to maximize results. By exfoliating regularly, you remove the barrier that may impede the absorption of active ingredients.
3. Avoid ingrown hairs. Ask any man and he’ll tell you how annoying and painful ingrown hairs can be! An ingrown hair happens when the sharp tip of the hair curls back or grows sideways into the skin. Although their appearance is undesirable, ingrown hairs are not dangerous. However, in some cases, they can lead to infection, scarring and discoloration after healing. Prevention is always the best medicine. Encouraging the dead skin cells to leave is an easy way to avoid an ingrown hair.
4. Brighter complexion. Skin that lacks lustre can be caused by a number of things, including age, stress and a layer of dulling, dead skin cells. A quick fix is using a treatment such as the original MaMa Lotion with malic and mandelic acids to gently remove old cells and reveal the newer, healthier skin beneath. Who doesn’t want smoother, brighter skin?
5. Reduce clogged pores and blemishes. One of the main reasons why pores can become clogged with sebum is the presence of dead skin cells. If those dead skin cells were to drop away, they wouldn’t pose a problem. Unfortunately, they often cling to the surface of your skin, blocking the pores. By incorporating a gentle exfoliant into your routine, you can remove those problematic dead skin cells and reduce the number of blemishes and blackheads.
Convinced yet? We hope so.
